Day: 29th May 2026

John chapter 9 records an event which occurred in The Temple at Jerusalem, during the autumn festival of Sukkot, just 6 months before the crucifixion. Earlier, during a heated exchange with the Jewish religious leaders, Jesus had declared himself  “I am”, signifying his divinity and pre-existence before the patriarch, Abraham (John 8:58). In response to this declaration, the Jewish authorities took up stones to kill him, yet Jesus skilfully eluded them (v.59).

As John 9 opens, we see Jesus descending The Temple steps (v.1), whereupon, out of all the poor, dispirited and beggarly souls in that heaving city, he fixes upon a man who has been blind from birth, for whom he will perform a great act of grace. Jesus will do for this man something which the man could never do for himself; not even the most gifted physician could restore his sight, for he was born blind. Jesus alone is able to give him sight (vv.6-7), and this, “…that the works of God might be displayed in him” (v.3). Not only would this man receive physical sight for the first time, but he would also come to ‘see’ Jesus in a way he hadn’t perceived him before (v.11). He simply believed Jesus, obeyed his instructions, and ‘came home seeing’ (v.7). His justifying faith in the power and grace of Christ contributed to the sight-giving miracle which he experienced, which John records as the sixth of seven Messianic signs. 

There are important lessons for us here. This act of Jesus appears surprisingly unhurried, given that, moments before, the Saviour’s life was threatened (John 8:58), a threat which was to remain ever-present throughout his brief, but purpose-filled, ministry. However: “As long as it is day,” Jesus reminds his disciples, “we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (vv.4-5). The same power that unveiled our spiritual eyes upon conversion, that raised the Lord Jesus from the dead and opened up the rock-sealed tomb so that others could look in and ‘see’ that Jesus indeed was risen, opened this blind man’s eyes. 

Jesus has a precise work to perform, and the healing of this one, seemingly insignificant, individual, was to be a key part of that work. The Lord had an allotted time on earth within which to complete the Father’s will for him, yet his all-absorbing, reconciling ministry; his relentless itinerant preaching; his enthralling, life-giving, truth-telling words, and his wondrous works are all unrushed, though driven by divine purpose and missional zeal. 

However, there is hope for this unseeing world, as the above events teach us. Spiritual transformation can take place in a single day, in a single hour, in a moment, as the grace of God unwraps the eyes of faith and a self-effacing sinner is brought to rely on the saving work of Jesus who is the source, sustainer, and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Local congregation:
Grace Communion Peterborough
Farcet Village Hall
Main Street
Farcet
Peterborough
PE7 3AN

Meeting time:
Sunday 11.00 am

Local congregational contact:
Richard Dempsey

Email:  richard.dempsey@btinternet.com
Local church website: GRACE COMMUNION CHURCH PETERBOROUGH – Landing Page

Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church